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Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143472, 20 April 1911, Page 2

Two earthquake shocks were felt in New Plymouth at 8.30 last evening. A Hastings telegram states that 0.54 inch of rain has fallen there since Saturday, and there was a prospect of more rain last night. The Stratford County Council has decided to act on tho suggestion of the Tourist Department and erect a number, of finger posts for tho guidance of tourists travelling in the country. In the Supreme Court, on tho motion of Mr. Quilliam (Govett and Quilliam) letters of administration with tho will annexed, to tiie estate of the late Dr. Francis Blako Hutchinson, have been granted on behalf of tho executors named in the will.

Fair progress, tho Hawora Star says, is being made with the railway deviation beyond Mokoia, about 60 men being employed. The cutting will average 40 feet deep for 35 chains necessitating tho removal of 150,000 yards of earth, about a third of which has been shifted.

Professor Williams, of tho Cornell Civil Engineering College, placed 16 compass-points in a small capsule for safe-keeping. Ho absent-mindedly swallowed tho little magnets in mistake for medicine. Surgeons operated on tho professor, and removed from his stomach tho unwholesome dose. Air. Abraham Nation, a prominent sports promoter and racing man, has mot his death in a peculiar manner in Now York. Ha was playing with a pet bulldog last week, and allowed tho animal to lick his hand. A slight cut must havo received poison, for three days later tho unfortunate man developed hydrophobia, and died an awful death.

So pleased arc tho postal authorities with the results attained by tho automatic stamp-soiling machines, at present in use in_ tho chief post offices of the Dominion, that they have decided to order 50 extra machines. Some idea of tho amount of postage stamps sold by those machines may bo gathered from tho fact that sales by eight machines havo totalled a quarter of a million in nine months. If over a man’s prompt action in an emergency deserved substantial recognition, that of All. R. Claude, of AA'csttiold, docs for tho way in which ho averted a serious disaster on tho railway lino near his homo on Monday night. It was not his pluck nor Ids skill and activity that wore remarkable, though' those qualities wore required to enable him to accomplish what ho did, but it was his presence of mind that prevented a terrible smash, which might havo resulted in the loss of many lives, and would certainly havo caused great destruction of property. There are plenty of men who would unhesitatingly risk their lives to avert a disaster, plenty who could show as much activity in jumping fences and catching a runaway train, hut how many, we wonder, would havo tho presence of mind to grasp such a situation as presented itself to Air. Claude in time to allow of their acting at the crudial moment. A few seconds’ hesitation and tho runaway train would havo travelled too far for him to catch it, and collision with tho approaching express must havo occurred. It was a deed which deserves, substantial recognition from tho Government. Tho Melbourne Clothing Companv is now showing a very fine range of men’s tailor-made suits ready for service for the’ winter season. Suits of dark green and brown worsteds, plain and twilled Venetians, fancy coatings, and Indigo worsteds quietly cut and finished in every way. They are in measurements to perfectly fit every figure, whether tall, short, stout or slender. Tho prices are the Alclbourno’s popular prices, viz., 455, 555„ 655.*

A Gisborne telegram states that the sale of the Harbour Board leases resulted in increasing tho revenue from £283 to £2,371 and there are still 18,000 acres to re-lease.

An‘amusing disclosure, says the Lancet, in connection with tho Now York hirth-rato, is tho estimate of a telephone company that each birth causes on an average 300 telephone calls. A young American clerk named Earl Farrell, who was fined £lO at Southampton for being found on the White Star liner Adriatic without having paid his fare, said ho had boarded the ship in New York, after a ball, to seo some friends off, had fallen asleep on dock, and had been carried away to sea. Airs. Tai Te Tau, of Alastertori, speaking at a W.C.T.U. meeting, said that the Government of our Dominion compelled tho Native to register his dog, and upon his failing to do so ho was prosecuted. His child, however, could bo born and die, and he was not allowed to register it. A consignment of feathers of fowls and ducks was recently sent Home by tho Agricultural Department, and realised from 2Jd to Is 7d per lb. The latter price wah obtained for white duck feathers. Since the sale inquiries have been made by buyers as to whether there is a prospect of larger and regular supplies of feathers—especially duck—being obtained from New Zealand. If shipments were regularly made, there is every prospect that tho demand for them would, be good.

British woollen merchants do not like the “hobble skirt.” , An authority states that when tho long coats and full skirts wore in fashion a tailor would require from six to nine yards for a costume. Now ho only requires from throe, and a half to six. Indeed, n reputable AVeat-cnd tailor has affirmed that he will bo able to out a full costume out of three yards of cloth double width for all tho costumes which will bo worn during the coming summer. As tailors charge just as much for the present as for the old stylo of costume their profits go up but those of the manufacturer go down since only about half as much cloth is'used as formerly. ‘ In a speech at tho meeting of tho Librarians’ Association Air. Powlds, Minister of Education, approved tho idea of using schools in the country as the library and intellectual centre. Tho school committees, complaining that their functions had been reduced to the cleaning of schools, tailed to realise tho possibilities of their position. There was no need for any difficulty in having a library in any part of Now Zealand, because the school building was always present, and it should bb an easy matter to get some books for the people to rcadT Tho committees had a useful sphere of influence in extending tho library movement, and Air. Fowlds hoped tho Association would do something to encourage the idea.

Many persons doubt whether demand for immigrants who aro accustomed to farming will result in tho host class of man for a now country. Mr. Williamson, who recently visited Australia ns representative of tho Emigration Branch of tho Central Unemployed Body in London, reports that ho found that Cockneys had done veil m mrny cases. “Although” ho says, ‘they ere not of great use to the fanners at first, ’ they seem soon to got used to tho ways of tho country. Our London men are, generally speaking, Email and intelligent; and many farmers and other employers assured me ttrivq refer the Londoner to the Old Country fane hand, who had so much to unlearn, and was, moreover,’ often stupid and unadaptable.” At the meeting of tho Librarians’ Association attention was drawn to a useful development of public libraries. In tho public library of Cardiff there is a telephone inquiry department which has proved of great public utility. The first year it. was opened tho inquiries numbered 1542, covering a very wide range. Business men rang up to verify addresses in directories, to know the moaning of cable words, and for reference books giving terminological definitions. There were many inquiries whether certain information was obtainable in the library. The books were then placed ready for use, effecting a saving of time to tho inquirer and tho staff. In Now Zealand towns tho libraries are rarely connected with tho telephone. Private H. Barter, who has just joined the Ist Battalion Grenadier Guards, is only eighteen years of age, but stands 6ft. Bjin. in his stockings, and is still growing. Ho is said to bo tho tallest soldier in the pritish Army. "My father, who is a Devonshire farmer, is,” he states, “Gft. Sin. and my mother is oft. lOin. so I think it mast bo hereditary. I have lived nearly all my life in tho country, and I was persuaded to join tho Army by an ex-Guardsman. I am doing two hours a day in tho gymnasium, and about three hours’ drill, so that in a month or two I ought to roach Gft. 9iin. I have smoked since I was fourteen, or I do not know how tall I should have been.” Formerly Major Oswald Ames, of the 2nd Life Guards, who is Gft. Ijiu. was said to bo the tallest soldier in the Army. It is commonly supposed that the pumice lands of tho interior of this island aro of little or no value, but in” tho light of information published by a contributor to tho Now Zealand Herald this impression must bo corrected. He says: —“Just before I left Auckland I was chatting with a wellknown man, who has hud considerable experience in agriculture. He remarked ‘I have just been to Lichfield, and I got a big surprise whilst I was there I went into a paddock and saw ono of the finest clover crops I have ever soon in ray life. H —and others who were with mo were simply dumbfounded. AVo thought that tho pumice country was practically useless for farming ourposes, and wo had to confess that wo wore altogether wrong. That country has a great future before it.” I saw the paddock my friend referred to. There was only tho stubble of- the clover he referred to loft; tho crop had been cut for hay, and was to bo seen in the shape of four laj-go stacks. But although no rain worth speaking of had fallen for months the second growth was thick and wonderfully vigorous. This clover was grown on land leased from tho Government at about 3d per acre per year, was broken in from the scrub less than two years ago, tho seed put in on tho fresh furrow, witli about IJcwt. of cheap fertiliser. It has carried 600 sheep on an area of 200 acres, fattened a considerable proportion of this number, was shut-up, and produced what has been recognised as ono of tho heaviest clover crops ever soon in the Auckland district and when I saw it, it was, in spite of some months of drought, growing a luxuriant aftermath of clover, and carrying a very large number of sheep in splendid condition.”

. Velveteens are to. Be exceedingly popular this winter, and in anticipation AVhite and Sons havo just landed U comnrehensivo range of these goods. Tho prices are exceedingly moderate for tho very fine qualities shown, Is Is 10, and 2s 6d per yard.* For Children’s, Hacking Cough at night, AVoods’ Great Peppermint Cure, 15..6d,-2si6d.

The first cases nfidcr the new Gaming Act for betting on a racecourse will bo heard at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday next, there being six informations against three bookmakers.

Tho Reddle Bros., Len. and Vic., whose "circus name” is Pedro, are with Barton’s Circus, the advance representative of which is in town making arrangements for opening on Monday next. The Poddies have just completed an engagement with Fillis’s Circu., which, after a long season in South Africa, went over to India, showing in Bombay, Calcutta and other cities.

Teachers are looking for tho sympathetic help of householders at the annual meetings for tho election of committees to be held shortly. What is wanted is a better system of promotion. Tho Educational Institute is taking the matter up, and his circularised head teachers, requesting them to arrange for tho submission of the following resolution to the meeting; "That this meeting of householders considers that in the best interests of education a Dominion scheme for promotion of teachers is urgently required, and that this resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Education, Wellington.” In Bayfield County, Wis., there is a man who is so strongly charged with magnetism that he is going to bo used tho coining spring and summer, as soon as the snow goes off, to locate deposits of iron. This.human magnet is an ordinary lumberjack. He can rub a steel knife-blade briskly with his fingers, and then pick up (twopenny nails with the facility that one would with a regular magnet. He can burn tho flesh of another person’s hand by nibbing it, and heavily charged with magnetism'that a watch earned by him will soon he affected. Tho magnetic pqrson is to be tried on tho Cuyuna npige. The presence of a wearer of tho “Harem” skirt on the Foilding racecourse on Monday caused quite a little excitement, and the ; wearer and her escort (an enterprising picture show proprietor) were followed round the paddock by a large crowd of men and hoys, which at one time promised to become slightly unruly. One or two belated groans, however, were the. solo signs of antagonism. According to the Manawatu Daily Times the costume was distinctly neat and attractive, and much more sightly and sensible than the attrocious hobble. It was rumoured that the fair unknown came specially from Wellington under engagement by tho picture firm.

. In these days of rapid travelling by motor car and motor cycle, drivers of vehicles and the ordinary cyclists in particular should see to it that they are well acquainted with the “rule of the road.” Recently there have been several instances of- narrowly averted collisions between motor cars and cyclists coming in opposite directions, the cause of the trouble being that the cyslist—and the gentler ,sox are the worst offenders in this respect—not knowing on which side to pass the approaching car, hesitates, and moves from side to side of the road 7 at'the risk of a serious brush with the car. The rule of the road is simple 'enough, viz.; A person approaching always passes on his right, that is, move to your left; in passing a person going in the same direction keep to your right and thus again pass on his right. .. According to the Southland Times, included in the deck cargo of the Huanui, which arrived from the Macquaries this week, was a flock of eleven king penguins, among which are some remarkably fine specimens. They stand about two feet high and are beautifully marked, their black heads, white breasts, yellow necks and slaty blue backs forming a pleasing harmony of colour. The king penguin is not a gourmand; a-meal ouco a week suffices his bodily needs. The birds on the Huanui haven’t been fed since they left their rocky haunts. 'Yet they seem very complacent and satisfied. In their native state they, roam about in regiments, each regiment having its own particular rock. If by any chance an intruder should make his appearance on ;the rock of a neighbouring regiment ho is forcibly and promptly ejected. The flippers are the weapons of assault and not the long beaks. The beaks are used for getting a grip on an opponent’s back for the freer use of the chastising flipper.